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Energy Sector ETAAC Meeting. July 2, 2007 Sacramento, CA. Renewable Energy Technologies. CA RPS-eligible renewable resources: Wind Solar (concentrating thermal and photovoltaic) Small hydro (less than 30 MW w/o new diversion) Geothermal Biomass, biogas (landfill gas, digester)
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Energy Sector ETAAC Meeting July 2, 2007 Sacramento, CA
Renewable Energy Technologies • CA RPS-eligible renewable resources: • Wind • Solar (concentrating thermal and photovoltaic) • Small hydro (less than 30 MW w/o new diversion) • Geothermal • Biomass, biogas (landfill gas, digester) • Fuel cell using renewable fuel • Municipal solid waste conversion using a non-combustion thermal process • Ocean wave, ocean thermal, tidal current
Dairy Biogas-revisited • California has 1.7 million cows in 2,000 dairies • 50% in the San Joaquin Valley • Dairies release methane and other reactive organic gases (ROGs) • Methane has 21 times the greenhouse gas (GHG) impact of CO2 • San Joaquin Valley is a non-attainment area for air quality, which is affected by ozone created by ROGs • Biogas scrubbed/cleaned of CO2, H2S, etc.; pressurized gas injected into pipeline • Total market size for energy is relatively small, but large GHG reduction potential • Transporting to cleanest, most efficient plant, produces flexible, RPS-eligible energy and GHG credits while improving local air quality
SUV1 CO2 = 4.9 t/yr Cow2 CO2e = 4.9 t/yr 1 12,000 mi/yr, 25 mpg (Toyota Highlander V-6) 2 manure only
Landfill Gas • The energy sector and the industry sector both identify landfill gas as an important issue. • Both groups will examine the benefits and approaches to capturing landfill gas for energy supply. • The sectors also plan to compare the benefits of landfill gas versus diverting organic compounds to composting, and capturing the methane gas for energy generation from the compost.
Pyrolysis • Convert materials into bio-oil through the chemical process of decomposition through heating. • Liquids produced can be further processed into fuels, pharmaceuticals and food additives. Solid residues can be used as fertilizer. • University of Western Ontario and Agri-Therm Limited are working on a fast pyrolysis machine.
BioChar • A type of charcoal produced from biomass, employed most commonly as a soil amendment and is essentially a form of activated carbon. Biochar is largely inert, and microbial composting action leaves charcoal largely unaffected. It is highly porous, both retaining water and providing large surface area for microbes. • Field experiments were started in Cali, Colombia, through Cornell to study soil nutrient availability in acid soils as affected by bio-char applications. Studies are ongoing and show significant yield increases of maize, improved pasture and native savanna. • Other biochar activity is taking place in New South Wales, University of Western Ontario, University of Georgia, and Iowa State University. Source: Cornell University
Renewable Energy Cost Trends Levelized cost of energy in constant 2005$1 Source: NREL Energy Analysis Office (www.nrel.gov/analysis/docs/cost_curves_2005.ppt) 1These graphs are reflections of historical cost trends NOT precise annual historical data.